With a ton of games on Saturday’s NFL Preseason slate, 11 to be exact, football fans are in for a treat. Week 2 of the exhibition schedule means starters may see an extra series or two as teams work their guys back to game speed. In the evening portion of today’s festivities, the Dallas Cowboys host the Baltimore Ravens in a battle between playoff hopefuls.
Here’s a prediction and pick on DraftKings Sportsbook for this Cowboys vs. Ravens duel at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Cowboys vs. Ravens prediction, preview
Dallas Cowboys
Week 1 of NFL Preseason action was a real slog for the Cowboys. The team suffered a 31-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and scored just six points through the first three quarters, but we must add some context to the situation before fans panic. Dallas held tons of their top players out of the contest, including Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Jake Ferguson and much of the starting offensive line along with numerous key pieces on defense. They simply tend to play it much more conservatively in the buildup to the season.
However, backup quarterback Joe Milton will get the starting nod once more on Saturday. Acquired via trade from the New England Patriots, the cannon-armed passer completed 17-of-29 passes for 143 yards, a touchdown and an interception last week. He’s undoubtedly a fun watch even if his accuracy needs a little bit of tuning. Rookie halfback Jaydon Blue is a name to watch for today if he suits up since he’s no longer wearing a boot due to an ankle injury, but he’s questionable for today since he hasn’t practices since that bone bruise limited him last week. Otherwise, the Cowboys are likely to still deploy a limited roster in this contest as they try out their depth talent.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens saw a different outcome last week to open their first exhibition game, beating the Indianapolis Colts 24-16. While starters like Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers and more all remained inactive, a couple of names did stand out. Halfback Keaton Mitchell looked spry with nine carries for 68 yards and a score which came on a 22-yard scamper in the first quarter. He was undoubtedly the star of that game as he showed signs of a return to speed following a slow return from a 2023 ACL tear late last season.
Baltimore’s starters almost certainly won’t suit up today, but if Mitchell plays again, he’s a talent who can change a game with just one big play. Second-year back Rasheen Ali also looked solid last week with nine carries for 37 yards and a score, so he may see more opportunities today, especially if Mitchell doesn’t play. In the passing game, Cooper Rush steps under center against his former team for the first time and will try to shake off an ugly showing with an interception last week. The Ravens barely threw the ball against the Colts, tallying just 16 pass attempts to 42 rush attempts, but wideout LaJohntay Walker flashed some potential with two catches for 41 yards. The highlight of his day, though, was an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown. With more opportunities, he could secure a roster spot.
Cowboys vs. Ravens pick, best bet
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Ravens as 1.5-point favorites on Saturday with -130 odds on the Moneyline. The Cowboys are listed at +110 with a game total of 37.5 points.
Betting on NFL Preseason can prove tricky since proven stars don’t tend to see the field much, if at all. Instead, these exhibitions serve as an opportunity for young talent to see valuable reps against live competition as fringe players compete for roster spots on the final 53-man depth chart.
With that said, there’s a reason Baltimore enters as the favorites. They looked much more competent in last week’s opener and showed signs of their usual selves as they dominated through the ground game. Dallas truly struggled to stop the run last season, and while they shored up the defense some through the draft, they’ll need to prove they can stuff the gaps before you can feel confident taking them against a rush-heavy attack. While these aren’t starters on the field, good coaching can still get the most out of depth players. The Ravens also boast a massive advantage in that regard with John Harbaugh at the helm as opposed to first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Baltimore should handle business and cover in this one.
